User comments for Rahab

Rahab is mentioned in the Talmud and the Old Testament, and its etymology is given as "noise", "tumult" and "arrogance". Rahab is the name of a sea monster in the bible. Possible meanings include "ruler of the sea". Probably a pre-Judaic sea goddess.

While Rahab initially lived a life of sin, she is also a wonderful example of faith and repentance. Because of her courageous acts, God rewarded Rahab by making her one of Jesus' ancestors. It is an unusual name, but has a wonderful story behind it.

There are some Biblical commentators who believe that the word "harlot" in connection with the Rahab who is mentioned in the book of Joshua is a mis-translation and that the Hebrew word translated into English as "harlot" actually means "to feed" - and refers to an Innkeeper. Although it is possible that Rahab COULD have been considered a "harlot" by the advancing Hebrew army because she was a member of a pagan culture. In early Judaism - going out to worship pagan idols was viewed as a form of "spiritual infidelity." However, Rahab's statement to Joshua's spies seems to indicate that Rahab had made her decision to become a follower of the Lord God of the Hebrew nation BEFORE she met Joshua's spies. So, technically, Rahab would not have been considered as one who was worshipping pagan idols when she provided sanctuary for Joshua's spies. Also - in that time period - IF Rahab was an Innkeeper, she MAY have purchased the meat for her establishment from a meat market which sold meat which had been offered to the idols in the temple. This practice could ALSO have led the Hebrew nation to regard Rahab as a "harlot" - again because consorting with foreign gods was regarded as a form of spiritual infidelity. Even in the New Testament, early Christians had some concern about accidentally eating meat which had been offered first to pagan idols, and then sold at the "shambles" or meat market (I Corinthians 10:25). The ISB Encyclopedia has the following to say about Rahab:

:ra'-hab:(1) (rachabh, "broad"; in Josephus, Ant, V, i, 2, 7, Rhachab; Heb 11:31 and Jas 2:25, Rhaab): A zonah, that is either a "harlot," or, according to some, an "innkeeper" in Jericho; the Septuagint porne, "harlot"). The two spies sent by Joshua from Shittim came into her house and lodged there (Josh 2:1). She refused to betray them to the king of Jericho, and when he demanded that she produce the spies, Rahab hid the spies on the roof of her house with stalks of flax which she had laid out in order to dry. Rahab pretended that the spies had escaped before the shutting of the gate, and threw their pursuers off their track. Rahab then told the spies of the fear that the coming of the Israelites had caused in the minds of the Canaanites--"Our hearts did melt . For Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath"--and asked that the men promise to spare her father, mother, brothers and sisters, and all that they had. The spies promised Rahab that the advancing Hebrew army would spare Rahab and ALL of her family members - provided that they would remain in RAHAB'S house - and provided she would keep their business secret. Thereupon Rahab let the spies down by a scarlet cord through the window, her house being built upon the town wall - and gave them directions to make good their escape (Josh 2:1-24). True to their promise, the Israelites under Joshua spared Rahab and her family (Josh 6:16 ff the King James Version); "And," says the author of Josh, "she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day." Her story appealed strongly to the imagination of the people of later times. Heb 11:31 speaks of her as having been saved by faith; James, on the other hand, in demonstrating that a man is justified by works and not by faith only, curiously chooses the same example (Jas 2:25). Jewish tradition has been kindly disposed toward Rahab; one hypothesis goes so far as to make her the wife of Joshua himself (Jew. Encyclopedia, under the word). Naturally then the other translation of zonah, deriving it from zun, "to feed," instead of zanah, "to be a harlot," has been preferred by some of the commentators."

The scarlet cord or rope which Rahab used to lower the spies over the wall, enabling the spies to escape the king's soldiers, is thought by some commentators to be a foreshadowing of the way that the perfect, sinless life, shed blood, death and resurrection of Christ would one day provide salvation for all who had faith in Christ - and followed through on their faith with good works.

The verse in the book of Joshua which has been translated into English as first referring to Rahab as a "harlot" is repeated below - in the original Hebrew -- JOSHUA 2:1: